Southeast Child & Family Services

Southeast Child and Family Services serves eight First Nations in the southeast region of Manitoba: Brokenhead Ojibway Nation; Black River First Nation; Hollow Water First Nation; Bloodvein First Nation; Berens River First Nation; Poplar River First Nation; Little Grand Rapids First Nation; and, Pauingassi First Nation. Of these, Poplar River, Pauingassi, and Little Grand Rapids are remote communities and are accessible by plane except for a brief period when there is winter road access. Buffalo Point First Nation, which falls under the SECFS mandate, is served by Animikii Osozon Child and Family Services under a sub-agreement since 2008. The Agency is provincially and federally funded, based on a 60/40 split, and is mandated under Manitoba's The Child and Family Services Act. The Agency services requires a comprehensive plan that takes into account the geographical complexities and high costs to deliver services and goods to the eight communities, and we have a large off-reserve clientele base. One of the ongoing challenges faced by our community staff is the limited internet connectivity. In addition, the funding models fail to recognize our extra-large size; the remoteness; the chronic housing shortages; and, the limited human resources available on some communities.